Hatyaiwittayalai School in Songkhla suspended classroom teaching for two days after a former South African teacher allegedly posted a firearm image, messages and an audio clip in a public LINE group.

School director Thiwichaya Meechooworapong said miscommunication over Thai bureaucratic procedures may have contributed to the dispute with Pieter Johannes Dreyer, who was dismissed on July 24.

The secondary school in Hat Yai, which has around 3,600 students, ordered pupils to study from home on Monday and Tuesday after considering the online material threatening. Patrol police visited the campus to provide additional security.

Wednesday is Mother's Day, a national holiday, and normal on-site classes are due to resume on Thursday.

School cites communication problems

Ms Thiwichaya said the school had tried to resolve problems with Mr Dreyer through meetings and discussions involving Thai staff and other foreign teachers.

She said the case had highlighted a need to review how the school recruits teachers. It could stop accepting walk-in applications from foreign teachers and instead use recruitment agencies in future.

For foreign teachers in Thailand, the case underlines the importance of having employment terms, salary arrangements and workplace concerns clearly documented. Public schools operate under formal approval systems, which can make changes to pay and other contractual matters slower than at private employers.

Salary and contract dispute

Mr Dreyer, formerly an English-language teacher at the school, had alleged fraud by the school. In a statement released by Ms Thiwichaya she denied those allegations.

She said his salary payment was delayed from November 26 to December 2, 2025, because severe flooding affected the school's database and payment system.

The director said the school could not immediately increase his monthly pay from 33,000 baht to 35,000 baht, as he had demanded. As a public school, it needed permission to approve a pay rise and the director did not have sole authority to make the change, she said.

According to the statement, Mr Dreyer had signed a contract accepting the 33,000-baht monthly rate. Ms Thiwichaya also denied that management had refused to reduce his social security contribution or overstated flood damage.

The school said it terminated his contract because he had allegedly breached it by posting false information online and being absent for more than two working days without informing a supervisor. The absence affected administration, teaching quality and the school's credibility, the director said.

Case now before Administrative Court

Ms Thiwichaya said Mr Dreyer filed a complaint with the Labour Court. Relevant authorities agreed with the school's request to move the case to the Administrative Court, which is considering it.

Immigration police said Mr Dreyer left Thailand through the Padang Besar border checkpoint in Sadao district, Songkhla, at 2.39pm on July 19 and had not returned. He has also been on the immigration watchlist to prevent him returning.

The school has filed a police complaint in response to the perceived threat and is seeking legal action. Ms Thiwichaya said management wanted to resolve the matter peacefully and limit its effect on all parties.

---

Related story

School-shifts-online-after-threat-from-former-South-African-teacher

---

Join the discussion?

11 August 2026

View full article

You are not going to get anyone any good on 35,000 a month. Pay peanuts get knob jockeys.,

Edited to a month.

Edited August 11Aug 11 by sungod

I don’t have much faith in the screening process for foreign teachers, because it seems that almost anyone can become one. About 16 years ago, when I was living in Ubon Ratchathani, I remember meeting a Japanese national who taught both English and Japanese. At the time, the area where I lived was much less developed than it is today, and he was the only foreign teacher at the school.

As for South Africans living in Thailand, I don’t want to generalize, but in my own experience, I have often encountered individuals with very poor attitudes people who look down on the country they have chosen to live in and display racist behavior. Some even mock Thai students who struggle to speak English, despite those students putting considerable effort into learning the language.

There are also overlapping issues involving race and perceptions of Black people, as well as people who have emigrated from countries affected by serious political and social problems, including disputes over land ownership. As a result, we sometimes see individuals who carry a sense of having been treated unfairly into another country and, unfortunately, reproduce attitudes rooted in resentment or hostility toward others there.

Edited August 11Aug 11 by Jone500

4 minutes ago, Jone500 said:

As a result, we sometimes see individuals who carry a sense of having been treated unfairly into another country and, unfortunately, reproduce attitudes rooted in resentment or hostility toward others there.

Until Thai politics elevates the education portfolio into the top flight of money-spinners such as finance, interior and transport, the quality of education here will languish where walk-in punters are hired, probably without checking their bona fides or even issuing a work permit.

Outside of education, a few forum members also seem to carry a chip on their shoulder about their homeland, what it was and what they believe it has or will become. These are the conflicted ones that complain and disparage both Thailand and their homeland.

25 minutes ago, Tim62 said:

It's 35,000 per month.

I was ribbing sungod for his error.

It seems to me salaries for foreign teachers in state schools have hardly moved in years. Teachers were getting the same sort of figure way back at the turn of the millennium.

There is a very big gap between the Thai culture, way of handling with foreigners, and contracts and the Western culture. Than of course there is a language problem. I believe indeed there is miscommunication, but things could be prevented if people were open for communication, but in Thailand it is the " My position is higher so you have to do and listen as I am right" attitude which makes communications difficult.

Kurusapa and the education department have also no clues about Western qualifications. A Thai masters id completely different than a Western bachelor degree.

Anyway the article shows indeed there were made mistakes due to miscommunication and mis understandings, but to feel threatened is a big too much.

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

There is a very big gap between the Thai culture, way of handling with foreigners, and contracts and the Western culture. Than of course there is a language problem. I believe indeed there is miscommunication, but things could be prevented if people were open for communication, but in Thailand it is the " My position is higher so you have to do and listen as I am right" attitude which makes communications difficult.

Kurusapa and the education department have also no clues about Western qualifications. A Thai masters id completely different than a Western bachelor degree.

Anyway the article shows indeed there were made mistakes due to miscommunication and mis understandings, but to feel threatened is a big too much.

Since he has already left the country, presumably with no intention to return, I’d say he was feeling hard done by, so tried to cause as much trouble as possible as a parting shot.

Seems he pretty much succeeded.

4 hours ago, sungod said:

You are not going to get anyone any good on 35,000 a month. Pay peanuts get knob jockeys.,

Edited to a month.

The guy didn't show up to teach kids for two days without any notification! Who does that? Unless you're really sick and have no way to call the school, but obviously not this case.

This alone justify firing his lazy cheating arse.

But According to thai labor law it is 3 days that the employer is allowed to fire immediately. So he still should be fired but the school might get in trouble.

Just be glad he’s gone. It would have only gotten worse with time.

I cannot figure it out why Thai authorities hire foreign Western nationals to educate their Thai minors or adults.

There are highly qualified Thai teachers and professors who can educate minors -adults perfectly.

This mentality degrades Thai citizens and "upgrades" Western "visitors" without any evidence.

Ι am Greek from Athens (Mediteranian region) and I cant accept that I am smarter than Thai citizens etc furthermore I have worked in your wonderfull beautiful country and I fount out the only problem with Thais is English language. (okay we have different alphabet and it is hard enouth for both of us to learn your language as well as for me to learn your language).

The Minister of Education should do his/her job properly because there are online platforms for students to study their daily lessons as well as to improve their English language skills.

You shouldn't spend your money on things that are taken for granted. Please make an inquiry to Greeks - Austrians - Germans etc how they offer additional education skill after school time at their children in online free education plaforms. (some of them have subcription € 1- €2 per month but most of them are free mainly for students).

Children are our trophy in our society and Thai parents work hard enought to increase their expenses for further education programs.

This the job - assignment of your "lovely" Minister of Education who plays playmobile games in her /his tablets at the office.

I feel embarrassed amost ashamed seeing Thai minors -adults students siiting at the pavement and watching me as "large E.U citizen" to approach "professionals sex workers" spending their precious free time in "rubbish".

Do you know what have you done?

Edited August 11Aug 11 by Paris333

Ha ha, funny... the old "Nothing to see here... move along MO". Classic!

1 hour ago, Paris333 said:

I cannot figure it out why Thai authorities hire foreign Western nationals to educate their Thai minors or adults.

Back in 2008 I was with my then gf in a town in Udon Thani. I needed something in Thai translated into English so the gf took me to the see a Thai English teacher. The translation looked like it had been written by an English 5 year old.

5 hours ago, Paris333 said:

I cannot figure it out why Thai authorities hire foreign Western nationals to educate their Thai minors or adults.

...furthermore I have worked in your wonderfull beautiful country and I fount out the only problem with Thais is English language

You just answered yourself. They are hiring foreign English teachers because they want students' English abilities elevated. Is it working? not sure - that's another story.

4 hours ago, Geoff914 said:

Back in 2008 I was with my then gf in a town in Udon Thani. I needed something in Thai translated into English so the gf took me to the see a Thai English teacher. The translation looked like it had been written by an English 5 year old.

Back around 2018, after relocating to Udon Thani and seeking to enroll my son in the "extra English" curriculum at a local school, I was told he failed to qualify as his English-speaking abilities weren't good enough. We requested to speak the the head of the language department who had evaluated him. She was a quite pleasant, middle-aged woman who couldn't speak a word of English herself.

Some years back I became acquainted with the head of the English department at a Buriram school. Her English language with me consisted of "hello" and "BYE BYE" as if I was a toddler.

18 hours ago, sungod said:

You are not going to get anyone any good on 35,000 a month. Pay peanuts get knob jockeys.,

Edited to a month.

What is a 'knob jockey'?

10 hours ago, Paris333 said:

I cannot figure it out why Thai authorities hire foreign Western nationals to educate their Thai minors or adults.

Thailand has a screaming shortage of English teachers in its public schools. That's because Thais qualified to teach English can get much better paying jobs in private schools, businesses or outside the field of education.

The Thai wife of a friend of mine was a qualified English teacher with the appropriate Thai degree and teaching certificate. Because she spoke English so well thanks to her husband, she made four times a public school teacher's salary by teaching English classes for employees of a Thai transnational corporation.

On 8/11/2026 at 4:49 AM, Georgealbert said:

For foreign teachers in Thailand, the case underlines the importance of having employment terms, salary arrangements and workplace concerns clearly documented.

It doesn't matter what the contract says, the Thais will change it to suit themselves and if you object, they will dismiss you for some other reason. Been teaching 17 years & this is what they do in every school/university bar none.

7 hours ago, scorecard said:

What is a 'knob jockey'?

It's quite literal actually. 'Knob' as in penis & jockey as in person who rides it. Not sure how a 'teacher' who accepts 35000 baht a month can be labelled one, but the poster has done it anyway. :)

8 hours ago, captnhoy said:

Some years back I became acquainted with the head of the English department at a Buriram school. Her English language with me consisted of "hello" and "BYE BYE" as if I was a toddler.

The Head (Dean) of my English department can't string 5 English words together in one sentence. I sheeet you not. :)

Edited August 12Aug 12 by hughrection

UPDATE

South African ex-teacher apologises over Songkhla threats

18 hours ago, Paris333 said:

I cannot figure it out why Thai authorities hire foreign Western nationals to educate their Thai minors or adults.

There are highly qualified Thai teachers and professors who can educate minors -adults perfectly.

This mentality degrades Thai citizens and "upgrades" Western "visitors" without any evidence.

Nonsense. There ate PhD & Doctorate holders of English disciplines in my faculty who have studied overseas, and while they can converse with me, they are far from competent in the language.

3 hours ago, hughrection said:

Nonsense. There ate PhD & Doctorate holders of English disciplines in my faculty who have studied overseas, and while they can converse with me, they are far from competent in the language.

At bi-lingual high school, from 4th year, my Thai granddaughter was ordered to join the English language teachers team whenever there was a visiting foreigner(s) coming to the school, to act as interpreter because the Thai English langage team couldn't conduct any, even very simple discussions in English.

*(The whole school not as good as the Thai owners advertised. None of the foreign teachers for : English, Chinese, Maths, Science, Social Studies (and more) had any qualifications, none had achieved a bachelor degree in anything.

It really annoyed my granddaughter to introduce the school owner / principal saying she had a doctorate and 3 masters degrees, when in fact she had never completed high school.

Granddaughter attended a much better high school for final high school year and managed to get into a very good uni for her bachelor studies and completed her degree (all study in English) with a high GPA. Now in second year of masters studies in International Relations (all study in English) at a well recognized Thai uni.

Just now, scorecard said:

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

At bi-lingual high school, from 4th year, my Thai granddaughter was ordered to join the English language teachers team whenever there was a visiting foreigner(s) coming to the school, to act as interpreter because the Thai Headmistress couldn't read or write or speak or comprehend any English and the English language teaching team couldn't conduct any, even very simple discussions in English*.

(*Reminds me of my Thai son bringing home uni buddies to do their team projects at our big condo in Bkk. Son spoke Thai and English fluently but the proram / degree he wanted was only available in Thai.

I wrongly assumed some of his buddies could speak some English. I quickly learned / realized they couldn't even understand 1, 2, 3 spoken in English.)

It was always going to be about money. And then the school come out and talk about a delayed payment in December, why would that have anything to do with the sacking in July? He's owed money I bet.

On 8/11/2026 at 3:43 PM, Paris333 said:

I cannot figure it out why Thai authorities hire foreign Western nationals to educate their Thai minors or adults.

There are highly qualified Thai teachers and professors who can educate minors -adults perfectly.

This mentality degrades Thai citizens and "upgrades" Western "visitors" without any evidence.

Ι am Greek from Athens (Mediteranian region) and I cant accept that I am smarter than Thai citizens etc furthermore I have worked in your wonderfull beautiful country and I fount out the only problem with Thais is English language. (okay we have different alphabet and it is hard enouth for both of us to learn your language as well as for me to learn your language).

The Minister of Education should do his/her job properly because there are online platforms for students to study their daily lessons as well as to improve their English language skills.

You shouldn't spend your money on things that are taken for granted. Please make an inquiry to Greeks - Austrians - Germans etc how they offer additional education skill after school time at their children in online free education plaforms. (some of them have subcription € 1- €2 per month but most of them are free mainly for students).

Children are our trophy in our society and Thai parents work hard enought to increase their expenses for further education programs.

This the job - assignment of your "lovely" Minister of Education who plays playmobile games in her /his tablets at the office.

I feel embarrassed amost ashamed seeing Thai minors -adults students siiting at the pavement and watching me as "large E.U citizen" to approach "professionals sex workers" spending their precious free time in "rubbish".

Do you know what have you done?

Well, I dare to say that the majority of foreign teachers are hired to teach English. Not all obviously. And as you say in your post…

“and I fount out the only problem with Thais is English language.”

So how can they hire Thai’s to teach Thai’s how to speak English, when the problem is Thais speaking English?

It’s a multi generational problem where foreigners are required to teach English, until such time as there are enough English speaking Thais to take over the English teaching roles.

It can be done, many Philippine nationals speak English. But I’m not so hopeful that Thailand will reach the point where enough speak English well enough, that Thais can take over teaching English to Thais.

One reason for this imho, is that from what I have seen, the Thai educational system focuses on Thailand being the centre of the universe. So why bother with the rest of the world and their languages?

7 minutes ago, scorecard said:

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

At bi-lingual high school, from 3rd year, my Thai granddaughter was ordered to join the English language teachers team whenever there was a visiting foreigner(s) coming to the school, to act as interpreter because the Thai Headmistress couldn't read or write or speak or comprehend any English and the English language teaching team couldn't conduct any, even very simple discussions in English.

On 8/12/2026 at 1:17 PM, scorecard said:

At bi-lingual high school, from 4th year, my Thai granddaughter (In English conversation learning programs from Kindergarten and immesed totally in English all day at home) was ordered to join the English language teachers team whenever there was a visiting foreigner(s) coming to the school, to act as interpreter because the Thai English langage team couldn't conduct any, even very simple discussions in English.

*(The whole school not as good as the Thai owners advertised. None of the foreign teachers for : English, Chinese, Maths, Science, Social Studies (and more) had any qualifications, none had achieved a bachelor degree in anything.

It really annoyed my granddaughter to introduce the school owner / principal saying she had a doctorate and 3 masters degrees, when in fact she had never completed high school. It was well established that she had gained the headmistress position through pure nepotism, nothing more.

Granddaughter attended a much better high school for final 2 years of high school year and managed to get into a very good uni for her bachelor studies and completed her degree (all study in English) with a high GPA. Now in second year of masters studies in International Relations (all study in English) at a well recognized Thai uni.